Jamestown Historical Society HERITAGE

FALL 2014 To collect, preserve, and share with others the heritage of Jamestown, Rhode Island.

FROM THE PRESIDENT Linnea Petersen

We have had a busy and productive summer We are very excited about the pending release of thanks to the hard work of many people. the video We Rode the Ferry, a project spearheaded by Winter/Summer Architecture, this summer's Bob Sutton. The video is an oral and visual history by expanded Jamestown architecture exhibit at the Jamestowners who as students rode the ferry back and museum, curated by Jim Buttrick, was very popular forth to school in Newport before the Pell Bridge with our visitors. The displays contrasted the winter opened 45 ago. We are very grateful to Bob for homes of Jamestown’s summer people with the capturing those students’ memories. summer homes they built here. Our Volunteer Appreciation Party was held in New signage and exhibit areas were installed at the October at the beautiful home of Sue Maden. Guests windmill. Safety railings were built, existing hardware enjoyed drinks and hors d'ouvres in a splendid setting improved, and lighting installed. We are very grateful thanks to Sue's gracious hospitality and Dianne Rugh’s to the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities for organization. Katie and Moria Flath donated their funding the signage and to our State Representative time as servers. They did an excellent job, and I am Deb Ruggiero for sponsoring a legislative grant for the very grateful to them for the help they provided. lighting. Our volunteers enable us to fulfill our mission to On July 19, we celebrated the new signage and collect, preserve, and share with others the history of upgrades at Windmill Day, a successful event Conanicut, Dutch, and Gould Islands. The Honor organized by our Windmill Chair, Jane Bentley. Roll of Volunteers on page 8 is impressive and humbling in terms of sheer numbers, as well as the A new book – Legendary Locals of Jamestown by talent, time, and energy, freely given to the Society. I Rosemary Enright and Sue Maden – was released by thank each of them for their important contributions. Arcadia Press in July. Rosemary and Sue are donating profits realized from the sale of the books to the Among our most energetic volunteers are the Jamestown Historical Society. In August, the authors members of the JHS Board. Two members of the were the guest speakers at our Annual Meeting. 2013-2014 Board are leaving. Betsy Moody, who co- chaired our very successful Centennial Gala and This year's House Tour Weekend began with a chaired the Development Committee, and Tricia wonderful Preview Party at the beautifully renovated Evangelista, who has done a wonderful job as home of Sandy and Rick Johnson. The next day we Treasurer for the past eight years, are stepping down had the privilege of touring five unique historic homes due to life commitments. We are very grateful to in the Ferry Meadows / Green Lane section of the them for their many contributions. village. Terry Lanza, our Program Committee Chair, did a fantastic job in organizing the weekend. At our Annual Meeting in August, we elected Peter Converse, Bob Flath, and Rosemary Enright to You can read more about these events and other our Board. Rosemary will take over as Treasurer in activities throughout the year in the reports in this January. We welcome them and look forward, with newsletter from each committee chair. pleasure, to working with them. Fall 2014 - 1

FINANCE Tricia Evangelista

In December 2006, the Jamestown Historical fund’s designated purpose. RIF deducts an annual Society established the first of three endowment funds Foundation support fee of 1% of fund value. under the control of the Rhode Island Foundation At June 30, 2014, the balances in the JHS (RIF) – the Jamestown Historical Society Windmill Endowment Funds at RIF are as follows: Endowment Fund for maintenance, preservation and JHS Windmill Endowment Fund $10,535 operation of the Old Jamestown Mill. JHS Mary R. Miner Archives $10,268 In 2007, the Mary R. Miner Archives Fund was Endowment Fund JHS General Endowment Fund $356,693 established at RIF. The income from this fund is restricted to the care and management of the Society’s The grants are received each year in December. manuscripts, books, documents, photographs, prints, In the seven years since the inception of the funds, and other paper ephemera. JHS has received the following amounts in grants:

Also in 2007, the Society set up a General JHS Windmill Endowment Fund $2,813 Endowment Fund, funded with contribution to the JHS Mary R. Miner Archives $2,648 2007-2008 Capital Campaign. Income from this fund Endowment Fund supports the general operations of the Society. Life JHS General Endowment Fund $50,459

memberships, net of development costs, and The most recent RIF annual report affirms “We contributions received that are designated for consistently are in the top quartile of performance endowment are transferred to the RIF Endowment with peer foundations, and in 2013 we were pleased Fund each year. with our investment return of 17.7%.” The board of The RIF manages the funds and returns 4.5% of the JHS encourages members to consider donating to the fund’s market value over the preceding 16 quarters the JHS endowment funds held by the RIF. to the JHS in the form of grants to be used for the

COLLECTIONS Dianne Rugh

Coming soon is an exciting collaboration between West Passage by John Cook, Dutch Island lighthouse the Jamestown Philomenian Library and JHS, resulting keeper, from 1915 to 1927. in one searchable database of Jamestown historical The fall exhibit at the Jamestown Lawn Avenue material. The Jamestown Philomenian Library middle school is called Keeping House and follows the approached JHS with the suggestion of adding its local development of household tools for storing and history catalog records into the JHS online catalog – a cooking food and for doing laundry from the colonial great endorsement of the JHS online catalog – and period into the 21st century. Many of the 19th and 20th establishing one portal to Jamestown history. Icons century artifacts from the JHS collection are on display on both the library and JHS websites will provide access to the database that will include records of Jamestown photographs, books, objects, and archives, available at either institution. Sharing: New Exhibits The foyer at the Jamestown Police Department is the site of a display of original paintings of ferryboats and the ferry wharfs from the Society’s collection. Two of the paintings, East Ferry at Night and Last Trip, are by Carolyn Sullivan. Also included are East Ferry with Ferryboat by Elizabeth Netten, the Governor Carr by John Doty Sr, a watercolor by Patsie McCandless of The fall exhibit at the Lawn Avenue School follows the the wheelhouse of the Jamestown, and a painting of the changes in household tools across Jamestown’s history.

2 – Fall 2014 along with a series of panels that focus on the effect of recorded daily and reviewed monthly by the electricity on the workload of the homemaker. Collections Committee, show a significant drop in the Five exhibits have been mounted in the JHS case Museum’s humidity levels, bringing these levels into in the Jamestown Philomenian Library. the acceptable range for storing archival material. Museum volunteers commented that they no longer  In April, an exhibit celebrated the 25th anniversary noticed a musty odor when they opened the Museum. of the Jamestown Press, which was first published on April 21, 1989. The Rhode Island Foundation Joseph O’Neill Ott Fund awarded JHS $377 to purchase archival polyester  In June, the Arnold-Zweir Post 22 of the sleeves to preserve and improve access to 19th century American Legion, named in honor of Howard maps and Charles Bevins’ architectural drawings in the Arnold and Francis Zweir who were both killed in collection. The maps and drawings housed in the JHS th World War II, marked its 85 year. A display in flat files were susceptible to damage whenever recognition of the anniversary included Howard handled, moved, or viewed. The sleeves will better Arnold’s Purple Heart. protect the fragile documents. Special thanks to Board  The summer exhibit in the library celebrated member Polly Hutcheson who wrote the award swimming in Jamestown and included bathing winning grant application. suits from the early 20th century when ladies Collecting: Donations covered virtually everything except their faces. Much of the JHS archival material is ephemeral,  From September to mid-October, Jamestown meaning that it was created to last a very short time. cookbooks were on display. The earliest recipe Ephemera examples are business cards, programs, was from 1825. menus, advertisements, invitations, membership cards,  Displayed currently is the history of the telephone and posters. JHS believes ephemera have lasting in Jamestown from 1883 to 1964. Fifty years ago interest and contribute greatly to the understanding of on November 1, 1964, the operator-activated Jamestown’s past. When sorting through keepsakes, switchboard was replaced with a dial system, and please keep in mind JHS’s interest in ephemera. Jamestown was assigned numbers 423. JHS received a bequest from Judith Fillmore who Preserving: Collections Management left a Captain’s desk used by her father, Robert H. Fillmore, son of ferry boat Captain Harry Fillmore. Sue Maden, JHS archivist, is a member of the Another bequest, The Last Trip, a painting by Carolyn Collections Committee along with Rosemary Enright, Sullivan now on display at the Jamestown Police Joe Logan, Linda Warner, Delia Klingbeil, and Dianne Station, came to JHS from Marie-Louise Betty. Rugh, who serves as chair. The committee meets the first Tuesday of the month to consider donations JHS is grateful for all donations received. In according to the guidelines of the Collections December some of the 2014 donations will be Committee Collection Policy and to oversee the exhibited in the JHS display case in the Library. A protection of the JHS collection. A dedicated group complete list of donations since May 2014 follows. of Vault volunteers catalog, inventory, scan, photograph, and care for the collection. About every six months, the newly created records are uploaded to the JHS online catalog. The Vault, located in the lower level of Town Hall, is open Tuesday and Thursday, 9 to noon, to accept donations and to answer reference questions. Thanks to the funds from the 100th anniversary gala, a vapor barrier and dehumidifier were installed in the crawl space of the Museum to lower humidity levels and to eliminate the musty odor. The work was completed in early 2014 and this summer measurements showed that the project was successful. Temperature and humidity levels in the Museum, The Last Trip by Carolyn Sullivan, a bequest to JHS from Marie-Louise Betty Fall 2014 - 3 DONATIONS AND ACQUISITIONS May 2014 through October 2014

Sandra and Peter Arnold: linen sheet 63” x 29” made Notice of Classification Hiram Beers, 3/2/1943, by Mercy Chase Weeden, embroidered with the date 5/28/1943, 11/15/1943, 6/7/1944; Class I 1795. and II Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, R.I. vehicle driving permit Beers, Hiram Earle, chauffeur NTF Gary and Betsy Behlers: 5 Jamestown postcards. Beavertail, Jamestown, R.I., 2/1/1945; newspaper Judy Bell: tile, St. Mark Church 1911, artwork by Connie clipping, Jamestown’s Grade 8 Graduated; Supt. A.J. Armbrust, 1977. Miller Awards Prizes, 1960; newspaper clipping, Crowning May Queen, NDN, 5/26/1955. Kathy Brownell: exercise book of her great great grandfather William S. Arnold; photographs of the John Godena: 3 photographs of the 1938 Hurricane. Clarke/Carr Reunion, July 12, 2014; photographs of Brookie Harding: books, Between Us and the Dark by the demolition of the Bay View Hotel, Dec. 6, 1985. Lenore McCall, Blacks in Rhode Island, The Geoff and Shelley Campbell: tile, Jamestown, R.I. Horse- Jamestown Ferries, The Great Hurricane and Tidal drawn Steam Fire Engine . . . purchased in August, Wave Rhode Island Sept. 21, 1938, and The 1894 by the Town of Jamestown for $3,000 and Portuguese of Conanicut Island; photographs and completely restored in 1958 with sticker of 1973 material on the Jamestown windmill. Family Day on back. Jamestown American Legion: flag holder with Karen and Peter Cannavo: four framed photos of inscription, Veteran Wars of the United States, with ferryboats [Governor Carr, JA Saunders, Beavertail, seal of State of Rhode Island. Conanicut]; Hunts Drug Store prescription box, T.E. Jamestown Community Chorus: two collages of Hunt Reg. Pharmacist telephone 297 Jamestown RI Jamestown scenes; 48 posters of concerts, 1988- June 21, 1938, Dr. Lynam; first day cover, 2014. Jamestown Bridge Opening Day, July 27, 1940; envelope, First Flight Air Mail Jamestown 1938, with Jamestown Police Department: paper, History of the stamp National Air Mail Week, May 19, 1938; Jamestown Police Department by Lieutenant Angela diploma from John Clarke School for Mary Elizabeth Deneault. Magill, Feb. 1921; photograph of Roy Wellwood, Jamestown, 1930; autograph book of Mary Elizabeth Delia Klingbeil: laptop computer. Magill, Oct. 23, 1926, Brooklyn Hospital Class of Bill Knapp: water bottle given at 2014 Rotary Picnic by 1928 with autographs of classmates and Jamestown Parks and Recreation. Jamestowners. Dorrie Linn: 1999 Penguin Plunge T-shirt. John Doty: copy of photograph of Carr School, May Day 1952. Theresa Littlefield: photograph of St. Mark Church priest Father Farrell with Bob Duffy. Rosemary Enright: book, Pirates of Colonial Newport, 2014 by Gloria Merchant; brochure, Jamestown Betty Carr Loughlin: 1880’s black velvet muff belonging Democratic Party campaign, Vote for Democrats, to her grandmother Bridget Murphy Smith, married 2014. to Samuel Smith in 1883. Judith A. Fillmore bequest: Captain's desk used for her Sue Maden: Jamestown tile of the Governor Carr by th father's studies (Robert H. Fillmore; son of Harry and Frank Caswell; Jamestown tile celebrating 150 Clara Fillmore, of Jamestown, RI) with contents Anniversary of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church by located at 11 Union Street; Jamestown, Rhode Island. Connie Armbrust; poster, Jamestown Rhode Island Hometowne Prints Collection by Donna R. Ide; special Janice Fletcher: photograph of 3 generations of cancellation, Beavertail Lighthouse Rhode Island Jamestown telephone operators, Shirley Whitehead, Approved Aug. 22, 1738 Jamestown, RI; tile, Harriet Beers, and Terri Whitehead; Rhode Island Beavertail Lighthouse Jamestown Rhode Island The Telco News, October, 1963 with photograph of 3 Site of the Third Oldest Lighthouse in the U.S., Don generations of telephone operators; mortgage Hiram Miller, 2005; My Experience on the Jamestown E. Beers et ux to Telephone Workers’ Building and Bridge, stories written by children in Tom Loan Association, 7/19/1944; warranty deed Ora P. McCandless’ North Kingstown third grade class after Remington to Hiram E. Beers, 7/19/1944; Sue Maden’s talk to the class in 1990. mortgage deed of real estate Hiram Beers to Percy F. Remington, 7/19/1944; mortgage Hiram E. Beers Georgia Marsh: photograph of Prospect House on to Telephone Workers’ Building and Loan Association, Green Lane, also called Carter’s Inn and St. James 11/22/1954; photograph of the Beers house, Manor. 1948; Thomas H. Clarke School Graduation Play and Exercises program, Wednesday, June 22, 1938; postcard U.S.O. Clubhouse, Jamestown, R.I.; 4 cards,

4 – Fall 2014 Pat McArdle: spoon given to her aunt Jayne Eleanor 30-August 3, 1981, Conanicut Island Art Association; Smith Barber, b. 1891, for winning spelling bee at the drawing for Clingstone Christmas card, Peace on Carr School in 1898 or 1899. Earth; program, An Evening of Music presented by Jamestown Choral Group to benefit Rotary Club Frank Meyer: Jamestown Community Theater posters Student Loan Fund, August 24; newspaper articles, for Sound of Music (1995), Music Man (1992), and Jamestown’s Battery to be Restored, Standard Times, Fiddler on the Roof (1991). Aug. 15, 1974; Jamestown Mill Repairs Should End Gene Mihaly and Blake Dickinson: poster, Tick Task this Month, Providence Journal, Aug. 11, 1974; Force, How Tick Smart are You Restoration Begun on Island Battery, Aug. 13, 1974; Groundbreaking at Battery is Set, Aug. 13, 1974. Newport Historical Society: 14 rolls of camera negatives of Jamestown houses and scenes, many Dennis Webster: poster, Veterans. All Veterans are taken after Hurricane Carol in 1954. invited to march with the American Legion and VFW in Jamestown’s Memorial Day Parade on Monday Chris Powell: Fool’s Rules T-shirt, 2014, designed by May 26, 2014. Will Wilson. Betty Weeden: Weeden material collected by Mary Mary Ragland: 1938 E.R. Vieira calendar. Louise Weeden for her History of the Weeden Family; Paul Richardson: negatives of the windmill and the tintype of D.B. Scott and H.J. Weeden, believed to be Weeden House; envelope, American Red Cross, Henry J. Weeden, 1849-1935; newspaper, The Jamestown Chapter Jamestown Rhode Island. Evening Bulletin Providence Sept. 10, 1869 with account of Gale of Sept. 8, 1869 with mention of Dianne Rugh: pin, Jamestown Penguin Plunge, 2002, damage to Jamestown ferry-boat; newspaper, The United We Plunge; cookbook, Bach, Beethoven and Evening Bulletin Providence Sept. 23, 1863 with Bread, Jamestown Community Chorus, 2009; book, account of the Great Gale of 1815. The American Family of John Watson of the Narragansett Country Rhode Island, 1983. Ann Wilson: large framed photograph of East Ferry purchased at Jamestown Design ca. 1992. Rich Santos: 3 photographs of Jamestown sports teams. Harry Wright: material on Conanicut Reserve; Harbor Commission minutes and notes; Newport Daily News Kerry Sheehan: case with glass shelves. article, Jamestown Quaker Meeting House to be Barbara Simon: aerial photographs of Jamestown, Opened, June 28, 1951; Providence Journal articles, 1975. Courts Hold 3 in Kidnapping of 2 Teenagers, March 10, 1979, The Galleshaw Kidnapping, March 11, Dick Smith: Handbook for Air Raid Wardens; John L. 1979, “Daddy We Got Away. Come and Get Us” Smith notebooks containing handwritten minutes of Youngsters Escape from Kidnapping, March 9, 1979. Tercentenary Committee meetings, 1955-1956 and Smith speeches, including the speech delivered John E. Wright: stained glass panel depicting Beavertail August 10th for the start of the celebration and the Light. closing 300th anniversary address given on August 17; Tot Wright: newspaper article, Boston Globe, “Reburied Jamestown Volunteer Firemen’s Ball Program, Aug. in Rhode Island,” June 24, 1973; ticket, Newport 31, 1937; 1905 Golden Anniversary program Ladies’ Historical Society Regular Quarterly Meeting, August Nite Rotary International, Feb. 19, 1955. 20, 1923…paper will be read by Mrs. Harrison S. P. J. Sylvia: plaque (for attaching to back of car) Morris; obituary, Capt. George Manders, 83, Retired SYLVIA’S JAMESTOWN, R.I.; unused invoice book for Lighthouse Keeper, March 19, 1954; brochure, Sylvia's Garage (Texaco Station) at 65 North Road Auction Sale by Seth A. Pierce of Jamestown, 1915; owned by John (Skippy) Sylvia. The Islander Jamestown’s Own Magazine of Humor, News, Gossip, Sept. 2, 1939, Poems by Winthrop Anna Templeton-Cotill: easement agreement between Wilson, 1976 with inscriptions by author; Poems by State of RI and Dutch Island Lighthouse Society, April Winthrop Wilson, 1975; sheet music, The World We 6, 2004. Live In words and music by Winthrop Wilson; A Short History of Beaver Tail Light Conanicut Rhode Island, Hollis A. Thomas: book, Some Descendants of John Bulletin of the Jamestown Historical Society, no. 7, Thomas of Jamestown, Rhode Island, 2012. August 1936. Inscribed Anna Wharton Morris. Lydia Biddle Thomas: aerial photographs taken by her Miriam Godena Zeuli: nail from the Hull House. father Nicholas Biddle.

Fricky Vaughn: postcard, Jamestown-Saunderstown Bridge; map, Travel Scenic 1 to the Jamestown Bridge Ferry System. Linda Warner: article, The Story of a 100 £ Island by Jeremy North, Country Life, Oct. 29, 1953; program, Seventh Annual Arts & Crafts Exhibit and Sale, July

Fall 2014 - 5 WINDMILL Jane Bentley

Once again the windmill has had a very successful I would like to thank all of the volunteers who season with people from several states stopping for “windmill sit” throughout the summer. They make it visits. We even had a guest from far away Norway, possible for the mill to be open to visitors every who was enchanted by the charm of the stately old weekend from mid-June through mid-October. Their building. names and those of the Windmill Day volunteers are included in the Honor Roll of Volunteers on page 8. Windmill Day We had a special celebration on July 19, Windmill Day. We enjoyed great weather, music, and a small farm animal petting area that delighted the children. We were thrilled as we watched the cloths placed on the sails and the Old Jamestown Mill once again in motion. Our millwright Andy Shrake was on hand to raise the cloths and had the sails turning in the light breeze. Windmist Farm provided baby chicks for the young children to play with, and the South County Rounders, featuring Matt and Judy Bolles, provided toe-tapping music for all to enjoy. Many volunteers helped to make the pleasant day a huge success. Windmill Signage Project The highlight of the day was the unveiling of the new lighting, signage, and exhibits inside the windmill. The lighting, paid for in part by a Legislative Grant sponsored by our State Representative Deb Ruggiero, makes the experience of touring the mill more satisfying, both by making its details more visible and by spotlighting areas of interest. In addition, it makes the mill safer, especially for our volunteers as they open and close the mill. The new signs and displays explain the history and operation of the mill. Rosemary Enright, who was instrumental in acquiring the grant from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities that made the new signage possible, served as manager for the signage project. Andy Shrake and Jessie Lambert designed, built, and installed the furniture for the signage project. A new guest desk greets visitors as they enter the mill. Safety rails protect visitors from inadvertently falling down the drive shaft opening or off the stone Windmill Day 2014. floor mezzanine, which is elevated three feet above the (top to bottom) Windmill in operation; children’s petting first level of the mill. The steps to the stone floor zoo; the South County Rounders with Matt Bolles on have been improved. The cloth rack on the first level bass, Judy Bolles and Chris Heinzmann on fiddle, and allows the Society to display the clothes that are raised Phil Smith on guitar.

6 – Fall 2014 on the sails to catch the wind. The shelving in the exhibit areas blend beautifully into the 1787 building. On the stone floor, hardware for attaching the different parts of the sail assembly together is displayed. A corn sheller, which was used to removed kernels from dried ears of white flint Indian corn, occupies one corner. On the second level, documents, artifacts, and explanatory signage tell the history of the mill, and photographs showing the steps in the mill renovation in 2000 play on a video screen. New signs on every level of the mill explain how the mill works and identify the functions of its different parts. They are an exciting addition to the mill experience.

1776 BATTERY Larry McDonald

Many of the new signs in the windmill include pictures of During the Revolutionary War, soldiers on the the actions explained. 1776 battlements in the town’s Conanicut Battery Historic Park had an unobstructed view of the West Passage across cleared pasture land. World War I and MEETINGHOUSE World War II observers in the six in-ground observation posts at the top of Prospect Hill on the Harry Wright east side of the park monitored traffic on Narragansett The Meetinghouse had a good season this year in Bay across fields clear of trees and underbrush. terms of visitors, maintenance, and future prospects. We have been working to establish view corridors William Smith repaired interior benches so that will allow modern visitors to get a feel for the masterfully that it’s not easy to tell the old from the vistas available at the time the fort was an active new. Bob Flath joined both the board and, we’re component in Narragansett Bay’s defense network. pleased to say, this committee. And we’re hoping that, Last year a view corridor was cleared west of the 18th in the coming months, we can all solve the problem of century battlements. This year a Senate grant the water in the crawl space that leaks through the sponsored by Theresa Paiva-Weed was used to porous stone and mortar of the foundation walls. remove stumps and to grade and seed the cleared area. Meanwhile, we’d like to take this opportunity to We are also addressing the 20th century pay tribute to the members of the Conanicut Friends installations. Until recently, brush hid the contours of Meeting, who use the Meetinghouse for worship on the bunkers and blocked the narrow, ground-level Sundays between April and late October. These observation windows. This autumn Robert Cassidy devoted caretakers not only use the Meetinghouse for volunteered, as his Eagle Scout project, to clear Sunday worship. Led by Marcie Lindsay, they keep around the outposts. By the end of November, the building safe, assure that it’s well ventilated, do people walking on the upper path will be able to see minor repairs, and keep an eye out for more serious the observation posts more clearly, although the views problems that may need the attention of the that they offered will still be obscured by trees and committee – such as powderpost beetles or mold. more distant undergrowth. The next phase is to plant They paint when painting is needed and clean the grass around the bunkers and to keep the area cleared. building thoroughly every spring. In spring, a second Eagle Scout project is planned We could not keep the Quaker Meetinghouse in to work on water abatement on the lower trail. such good order without their help. Fall 2014 - 7 Honor Roll of Volunteers for 2014

Each year we acknowledge the people who have committees, and as specialists who contribute their contributed time and energy to the Society’s expertise to accomplish a particular action. endeavors. Volunteers help the JHS in many different Many of the 163 individuals listed below have ways – as greeters at the windmill and the museum, as served in several different capacities. The Society staff for special events, as members of boards and thanks them all for their hard work and dedication.

Alexandra Allardt Aileen Flath Joe Logan Carroll Pruell Dick Allphin Alison Flath Michael Loo Betty Purdum Joyce Allphin Bob Flath Fran Lopes Mary Ragland Craig Amerigan Kate Flath Mary-Alice Lurgio Connie Rainone Stephanie Amerigan Moira Flath Diana Luth Evelyn Rhodes Suzi Andrews Donna Fogarty Sandra MacQueen Lynn Roach Rita Antine Elizabeth Furtado Sue Maden Robb Roach Jeanne Archambault Evelyn Furtado Kathy Maloney Deb Ruggiero Carolyn Armington Dona Gibbs Maggie Marcus Dianne Rugh Fran Basso Mary Giffin Peter Marcus Mary Lou Sandborn Judy Bell Ann Gillespie Georgia Marsh Ginny Saunders Jane Bentley Nikki Andrews Gladding Myrna Maxfield Jane Sigal Anna Bernath Michael Glier Larry McDonald Chris Smith Judith Boone Janet Grant Jeff McDonough Judy Smith George Boyer John Grant Lois Migneault William W. Smith Linda Brodin Mike Gray Martha Milot Linda Sullivan Paul Brunelle Brookie Harding Jane Miner Bob Sutton Lisa Bryer Janet Hayes Karen Montoya Deb Swistak Carol Buglio Ted Hedgpath Betsy Moody Mark Swistak Harry Burn Peter Herne Heidi Keller Moon Betty Ann Taylor Bill Burgin Ed Holland Bill Munger Geoff Turner Alan Burse John Horton John Murphy Pat Ustick Jim Buttrick Polly Hutcheson Mickie Musselman Nancy Van Devanter Abigail Campbell-King Justin Jobin Martha Neale Joan Vessella Kevin Carty Sandra Johnson Ken Newman Skip Walls Ken Caswell Rick Johnsoh Pat Newman Chris Walsh Donna Chellis Karen Kalisch Becca Nordstrom Linda Warner Archie Clarke Andrew Kallfelz Kathy O’Sullivan Pat Watrous Matthew Clarke Julie Kallfelz Teresa Paiva-Weed Dennis Webster Holly Collins Rose Karentz Barbara Parent Ann Wilson Nicole Contino Varoujan Karentz Roland Parent Jack Wilson Peter Converse Delia Klingbeil Jim Pemantell Dan Wright Ann Crompton Ralph Klingbeil Patti Pereira Harry Wright Fuzz Crompton Bill Knapp Linnea Petersen Josy Wright Pat DiPaola Judy Knight Paul Petersen Ann Zartler Jane Driver Winston Knight Paul N. Petersen Greg Zeek Michael Dupré Jane Koster Arlene Petit Deede Zeek Robert E. Dupré Jr. Carol Lake Bill Piva Joe Dutra Anne Lane Connie Payne Enright Terry Lanza John Enright Marcia Lindsay Rosemary Enright Dorrie Linn Tricia Evangelista Anne Livingston Cheryl Fernstrom Bruce Livingston

Note: There is always a danger in assembling a list of this sort that someone who has worked hard is unintentionally omitted. Please call 423-2674 or email us at [email protected] to let us know. The Volunteer Appreciation Party

8 – Fall 2014 COMMUNICATIONS Delia Klingbeil

We continue to keep our members informed of current exhibits, events, and news through informative and eye-catching emails. If you haven’t received a JHS email recently, please send us an email at [email protected]. We will add your name to our email contact list. We are working with RUBIC Design to revamp our website in both content and design. When it’s complete – an early 2015 rollout is anticipated – members will have one click access to the JHS catalog, the ability to order books and other material, and a way to sign up for the email notifications. There will Sue Maden (left) and Rosemary Enright (center) also be an easy online way to join the Society, to pay autographed copies of their book Legendary Locals of dues, and to purchase tickets for events. Jamestown after speaking at the JHS annual meeting. Dianne Rugh (right) was their cashier. We continue to keep the public aware of the Society’s mission and activities through print media. hearted picture essay about swimming in Narragansett The monthly JHS News column in the Jamestown Press Bay and what Jamestowner wore in the water. lets everyone in town know what we are doing. September’s trip down historic Green Lane let those In addition, Rosemary Enright and Sue Maden who couldn’t join us on the house tour enjoy some of write a monthly feature in the Press, under the JHS the pleasures of the day, and October’s history of logo. Their columns feature some aspect of telephone service in Jamestown, which passed several Jamestown history. Early this summer they celebrated milestones in 2014, dovetailed nicely with the library the 25th anniversary of the Jamestown Press with an exhibit on the same subject. article about the early newspapers published We hope you find their quick looks at exclusively for Jamestown, told the story of the Jamestown’s history interesting and thought- peripatetic Jamestown Police Station, and provoking. commemorated the 85th anniversary of the American And don’t forget to friend us on Facebook! Legion in Jamestown. August’s article was a light-

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS Matthew Clarke

Summer is a busy time for Buildings and the crawl space by Ed Holland of HV Holland Inc. Grounds. Over the past several months, we have We thank him very much for his donated services. We overseen the routine mowing and care of all of JHS continue to monitor the ground water level and properties. As anyone who owns or maintains an humidity in the crawl space area. “older building” knows, these locations need constant The Jamestown Historical Society is blessed with care and attention. volunteers who address major projects associated with At the 1885 museum at 92 Narragansett Ave, in specific locations. You will read more about addition to the annual treatment for carpenter ants and improvements and non-routine maintenance in the garden clean up, a broken flag pole rope was repaired column by the chair person responsible for the and temperature sensors install. The exterior of the property. museum is currently being scraped and painted. I would like to welcome Bob Flath to the Building At the 1786 Friends Meetinghouse, the JHS has and Grounds Committee. As the old saying goes, treated for powder post beetles; repaired benches, many hands make light work. chimney, and handrail; and attended to some minor Best wishes to all as we enter the holiday season. leaks in the roof. Casement vents were donated for

Fall 2014 - 9 PROGRAMS Terry Lanza

August Annual Meeting Meadow, one of the neighborhoods that was included in this year’s house tour. On August 21 at the Jamestown Philomenian Sandy and Rick Johnson were extraordinary hosts, Library, local authors and historians Sue Maden and and over 110 attendees were welcomed with warm Rosemary Enright presented their latest book, hospitality. They have beautifully restored the house, Legendary Locals of Jamestown, which was released by reestablishing it as a single family residence. At the Arcadia Press on July 14. The book tells the stories of event, the talented Dr. Johnson unveiled a large sea some of the unique and influential men and women glass-inspired stained glass ceiling fixture, which she who helped shaped our island’s character. had designed and crafted. The spectacular art piece Enright and Maden spoke in great detail about the that complemented the historic home’s interior was process of writing their book – their planning, raised to the ceiling in the front foyer by her husband research, coordination, timing, and at times heartfelt and son just moments before the JHS guests arrived. debate about the individuals to be included in the The hors d’oeuvres were delicious, and the wine book. As Maden and Enright told their audience, they flowed liberally, thanks to Ken Newman who believed numerous other Jamestowners deserved organized the beverage service. We especially enjoyed places in the story. However, criteria established by the fabulous desserts Sandy prepared for our the publisher and, ultimately by themselves, influenced enjoyment. their final choices. Some non-members attended the member’s only Following the presentation, co-hosted by the party as guests of members and happily joined the JHS Jamestown Historical Society and the Jamestown on the spot as a result of attending this glorious and Philomenian Library, the authors were on hand to sign delicious event. their books. The Historical Society receives all profits from the sale of the book. House Tour of Ferry Meadows and Green Lane House Tour Preview Party Saturday, September 13, was a beautiful sunny day for the house tour. All five of the featured homes were The members-only preview party at the beginning within walking distance of each other. Four of the of the successful House Tour weekend was held at the homes were located on Green Lane; the fifth was a Old Howland Mansion, also known as Fairacre, short block away on Friendship Street in the Ferry Washburn’s funeral parlor, and Tiffany Cottage. The Meadow neighborhood. A detailed tour guide house, designed by George Champlin Mason and built describing each home is available on our website at by John Howland in 1875, was the ideal setting for the jamestownhistoricalsociety.org. party. Howland’s farm was developed as Ferry According to JHS President, Linnea Petersen, the 2014 tour was an overwhelming success from a profit standpoint as well as a community building experience. There are many folks to thank for their efforts in producing this successful tour: We sincerely thank the homeowners, B. J. Dupre and Jane Driver, Hedgerow at 20 Green Lane; Georgia Marsh and Ted Hedgpath, 26 Green Lane; Julie and Andrew Kallfelz, Allison Cottage (aka Sea Haven) at 56 Green Lane; Lynn and Robb Roach at 64 Green Lane; and Abigail Campbell-King, Meadowside at 11 Friendship Street. They graciously opened their extraordinary homes, which allowed us to enjoy this special neighborhood. Visitors walked up and down Green Lane between the houses, most of them built in the 1880s, that were on Over 50 JHS volunteers, coordinated by Sue this year’s house tour. Maden, donated their time to serve as house docents.

10 – Fall 2014 Without them, the tour could not have taken place. Their names are included in the Honor Roll of Renew Now Volunteers on page 8. For 2014-2015 Our publicity team did a marvelous job. Artist Fran Gorman drew pictures of four of the homes; the MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY drawings were featured individually and as a group on the House Tour posters. Jim Ewing did the design Student - $15 and layout for the posters. Many local businesses and Individual - $25 organizations featured the posters to help promote the Family - $40 event. Patron - $500 Special thanks to Rosemary Enright, who visited (individual life) with each homeowner, researched the houses, and wrote the tour guide, and to Jane Bentley, who was 1657 Society - $1,000 instrumental in procuring several of the wonderful (family life + house plaque) homes on this year's tour. Voluntary Donation $ Renew Now TOTAL ENCLOSED $ Our annual dues year is July 1 to June 30. If you haven’t paid your dues for the 2014-2015 membership Mail to: year, please use the form to the right to renew your Jamestown Historical Society membership. P.O. Box 156 The Society is an all volunteer organization, but Jamestown, RI 02835 many of the activities discussed in this newsletter cost MEMBER INFORMATION money. Your dues and contributions are spent Name directly on the Society’s efforts to collect, preserve, Address and share with others the heritage of Jamestown, Rhode Island. City State Zip Seasonal only □ from to

Off-season Contact Information Address

City State Zip

Tel Tel (cell) Email

Please remember the Jamestown Historical Society in your estate planning.

Membership dues and contributions are tax deductible within the limits of the law.

Fran Gorman’s drawings of the houses on the House tour were used in posters for the event.

Fall 2014 - 11 Jamestown Historical Society Non Profit

Organization P.O. Box 156 Jamestown, RI 02835 U.S. Postage PAID Newport, RI Permit #326

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS President Directors to 2015 Directors to 2016 Directors to 2017 Linnea Petersen Vice President Judy Bell Jane Bentley Dianne Rugh Polly Hutcheson Secretary Delia Klingbeil Matthew Clarke Heidi Keller Moon Terry Lanza Treasurer thru 12/14 Dan Wright Tricia Evangelista Larry McDonald Peter Converse Treasurer elect Harry Wright Bob Flath Rosemary Enright Arlene Petit

12 – Fall 2014